Film holder for dental purposes



May 27, 1924. 1,495,958

D J. MACHOL FILM HOLDER FOR DENTAL PURPOSES Original Filed Feb. 18, 1922 ii z if gf INVfN OR at 0 BY {War/1d a A TTORNEY Patented May 2'7, 1924.

.UHTED STATES PATENT-,OFFICE.1.

DA ID J. MACHOL, or WEST NEW BRIGHTON, NEW-YonK, nssreNon r0 JOSEPHINE MACHOL, or WEST NEW BRIGHTON, NEW YORK.

FILM HOLDER FOR DENTAL PURPOSES.

Application filed February 18, 1922, Serial ZNo. 537,616. Renewed February 5, 1924.

condition of 'a'tooth at its root or toobtain a p-icture of the condition of the gums interiorly thereof, a specially arranged film is employed'which'is: applied to the gum at the region to be photographed. These films are usually pressed against the gum' and held by the fingers or a finger of the atient while an operator manipulates the ray machine. These films are flexible or rather 'yieldable being usually mounted on a lead plate so that the film can be caused-to fit closely to the gum. Oneof the objects of my invention is to provide means that will obviate the necessity of holding the films by the fingers, which is not sanitary to say the least.

tion, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein y Fig. 1 is a face view of my invention,

illustrating a film in position;

' Fig. 2 is a sectional side view illustrating my invention in use; I I

Fig. 3 is a side view illustrating the device under normal conditions or when notin use; 4 is an enlarged fragmentaryface view, looking from the left in Fig. '2;

J --'Fig. 5' is a topplan view of the film holder;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lower end of the tubular member of the post y Figs. 7 8 are detail views of one of the pads carried by the post; and 1 Fig. 9 is a. face view illustrating a long pad, as applied to the lower end of the post, to bridge a gap between teeth.

Tocarry my' invention into practice, I

long pad.

provide a collapsible film holder that can beheld between the teeth consisting of a suitable carrier having mounted thereupon 3 means to retain a film. The carrier is arranged to begripped the teeth, the film 1 being forced against the gums when the carrier is collapsed, special means being provided to automatically forcethe film against the gums. As'herein arranged, my invention consists of a collapsible post 10 made up of the tubular member '11 slidably supporting a spindle 12. The tubular memsoft rubber. Each pad 17 is removably secured to its head 17, in this instance, by a threaded stud 18"c'arried by a plate 19"to which it is applied the studs r' engaging threaded openings 18 inthe heads 16." In this instance each paid is applied to its plate by means of a tongue 20 which. engages a rabbet groove 21 in the plate whichcar- "lies the pad. 'By this means, i I am able I will now proceed to describe my invento renew the pads whenever necessary.- The 'pads 17 will be of various sizes to suit difgap in" the teeth occurs, as indicated 3 in Fig. 2, I would apply a pad long enough I tobridge "the gap. In this instance the gap is illustrated as occurring in the lower her 11- 'carries a spring 13 acting against the spindle 12 to force it outwardly, a pin row of'teeth; should'it occur'i'n the upper row, i, I would apply a long pad to 'the spindle 12. Should the gap-occur at both lower and upper rows of teeth each member 11 and 12 wouldbe provided with a. The pads may be made in Va rious shapes to suit' different conditions of the teeth. To support the film 22, I provide a. frame 23 provided with grooves 24 to receive the film. The filmextends for some distance above the frame in" order that it will bend to accommodate itself to the contour of the gums, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The frame 23 carrying integral ears 26 Fig. 2. The device operates as follows Should it be necessary to take an X ray of the condition of a tooth at its root, a film 22 will be. placed in the frame 23,, the device being in normal condition or expanded, as. indicated in Fig. .3 with the. supporting; frame tilted. The patient will now be; told to open his mouth after whichthe operator will place the device between the teeth, the film, of course, being positioned behind-the teeth whether upper or lower. After the device has been inserted, the patient will close. the teeth upon the pads 17 and: force the spindle 12 into the tube 11, thereby compressing spring 13. This action will cause the pin 2-9 to ride over the inclined. surface of the wedge 28,. thereby forcing frame 2 3 and its film 22 upward. The patient will force the post members together until the pressure of the film 22 upon the gum is felt, or in. other words,

the patient will collapse the post members to their full extent, which action will force the film against the gum, causing it to bend to conform to the shape of the gums. The spring 13 will maintain the members 11 and 12 in expanded condition when the device, is not in use; hence, it does not have to be expanded while being applied. The operator can insert or position the device in the month without placing fingers in the patients mouth, as forceps can be used to-manipulate it. The tubular member 11 will preferably be provided with openings 3O in order that the inner portion of the device, as well as the outer portion can be sterilized. The films 22 which I use are well known in the dental art and are pliable so that they can be caused to conform to the contour of a gum. My device can be constructed difl erently than herein shown, the structure selected being illustrative of a good practicable construction, 7

e What I desire to secure by Letters Patent i ss t ble n t mou h, ee h a s- :i s m mb s a s e ted h r th, a m

on one of said members, and an extension on said film holder adapted to engage said cam, said film holder being operable toward or away from the gums upon a closing or opening movement of the jaws, respectively.

3. A holder insertable into the mouth, means pivotally carried thereby to retaina film, teeth engaging members on said holder, and means associated with said teeth engaging members tooperate said film retaimng means when the teeth engaging members are moved.

4. A holder in-sertable into the mouth, consisting of collapsible members, a pivoted frame carried thereby to retain a film, and means carried by one of said members tomove a film carried by the frame int oohtact with the gums, when the holder members are collapsed.

5. A holder insert-able into the mouth consisting of collapsible members, means carried by each of said members to engage the teeth of the upper and l0W81".] 31W,,3,

movable frame carried by one ffisaid members to retain a film, and means carried-by.

consisting of collapsible members, a pivoted frame carried thereby to retain a film, means carried by one of said memberswto move a film carried by the frame into contact with the gums, when the holder members are.

collapsed, and a spring to keep said collapsible members normally separated.

8. A film holder insertable into the mouth and a film therefor, collapsible members associated with said holder, and means whereby said film holder moved upon a movement of said collapsible members.

9. A film holder insertab-le into the mouth and a film therefor, collapsible members as sociated with said film holder, and a pivoted member adapted to force the film against the gums upon a collapsing movement of said collapsible members.

10. A holder insertable into the mouth" consisting of collapsible members, means carried by each of said members to engage the teeth of the upper andlower jaw, a movable frame carriedby one of said members to retain a film, and a wedge carried by the other member to operate the hame o fame film carried by he frame against the gums, while the holder members are being collapsed when the jaws are closed "upon the same.

11. A film holder and film therefor, insertable into the mouth, said holder adapted to have contact with the teeth during an opening or closing movement of the jaws whereby the film will be moved toward or away from the gums.

12. A mechanically operated film holder 10 insertable into the mouth, and a teeth engaging member associated therewith, said holder being adapted for use in either side of the mouth without changing the relative positions of said holder and said teeth 15 engaging member.

DAVID J. MlAO'HOL. 

